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'Showjumping' at Rabbit Grand National!
Photo: Action Press/Rex Features
Breeders travel in from Sweden to compete

In defiance of the usual practice of using horses for showjumping, this year's Burgess Premier Small Animal Show has included a Rabbit Grand National complete with showjumping. Entrants had to jump barriers in the recognised manner, albeit smaller ones than are usually used in horse-based events. Some breeders travelled in from as far away as Sweden to compete.

Originally popularised after a brief appearance on the defunct television show That's Life!, rabbit showjumping has become a competition sport in the UK, US, Japan, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. In Scandinavian countries, the sport is known as 'Kaninhoppning'. The inaugural European Kanin Hop Championships were held in Sweden in October 2011.

Like any sport, Rabbit showjumping requires a combination of agility and training. Rabbit showjumping experts discourage the training of particularly large rabbits due to the potentially harmful concentration of weight on the front paws during landing. It is also recommended that smaller breeds of rabbit, due to their inability to jump particularly high, are not used. However, smaller rabbits have been known to overcome these obstacles through a combination of sheer will and jumping style, and smaller rabbits have made it to the highest Scandinavian classes. Lop-eared rabbits are forbidden from competing due to the risk of injury.

The world record for a high jump in rabbits stands at 995 millimeters (39.17 inches), and is held by Tösen and Tine Hygom of Denmark. The world record for a long jump stands at 3000 millimetres (118.11 inches) by Yaboo and Maria Jensen, also of Denmark.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.